Gabby Agbonlahor reckons Villa’s success at Sunderland was the perfect precursor to their daunting triple-header against last season’s Premier League top three.

Villa host Manchester United at tea-time on Saturday and Arsenal visit Villa Park a fortnight later with the claret and blues playing at Manchester City in between.

Agbonlahor grabbed the winner in a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light last weekend with his first top-flight goal since the victory over Norwich on November 5 last year.

And the Brummie striker admits it was important to get three points against the Black Cats to boost Villa’s confidence before the tough November schedule intensifies.

“It was the ideal way to start the month because if we didn’t get the result on Saturday then it would have put us under more pressure,” said Agbonlahor. “It was a massive win because a few teams won around us, Wigan and Norwich.

“The whole of the second half of the table is tight but we just knew Saturday was a massive result.